Southwest Florida International approved for specialized flights to Cuba

Getting to Cuba from Southwest Florida may no longer require a two-hour drive to Miami.

On Monday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection approved Southwest Florida International Airport to operate specialized flights between the US and Cuba. It was one of 12 airports, including Ft. Lauderdale and Tampa, to receive the designation nationwide.

Previously, only three airports were authorized to fly between the US and Cuba: Los Angeles International, Miami International and New York City-based John F. Kennedy International.

But those hoping to visit family and friends in the island nation will still have to make the drive east to fly out of Miami International for the time being. The Fort Myers-based airport is not approved for normalized travel to and from Cuba.

"No carriers are giving us regular service as of right now," said Victoria Moreland, public affairs director. "But this gives us the possibility to operate charter flights to Cuba for humanitarian relief, religious rights efforts or any other special reason."

Moreland said receiving this approval gives the airport the opportunity to attract carriers should circumstances require flights to Cuba.

"It means we have the merit to be able to handle that international traffic," she said.

Local Cubans are hoping that this will soon mean regular commercial flights will operate out of Southwest Florida as well.

"Too many people travel to Cuba from this area. And it's always a pain to travel to Miami first," said Irenia Torres, who left Cuba seven years-ago and has lived in Naples for six years.

If Southwest Florida International started operating flights regularly to Cuba, she said she knows people who would fly there monthly.

Until this year, those of Cuban descent were not permitted to travel to Cuba more than once every few years. As part of President Barack Obama's effort to reach out to the Cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their country's future, he directed that all international airports apply to operate charter flights to and from Cuba.

To be eligible for approval, airports must be an international airport, have adequate staffing, equipment and facilities to process international traffic and must have an Office of Foreign Assets Control carrier service provider that is prepared to provide flights between the airport and Cuba. Southwest Florida International received its approval as part of that initiative.

Claudia Morales, a waitress at World Bakery and Cafeteria, a Golden Gate-based Cuban cafe, agreed that she would visit Cuba if it was less of a hassle to travel there. Morales left Cuba with her family at age six and has yet to go back.

She would like to fly there with her Cuban husband who came to the US when he was 15.

"We just haven't had the time or the money to go to Miami and then fly there," Morales said. "I've heard you need at least $1000 to cover flights, customs and taxes before you can even step foot in the country."

Southwest Florida International is still far from operating regular, commercial flights to Cuba but the new designation gives it the opportunity to make the quick, 40 minute trip if the need arises.

"If and when the restrictions on flights ease up, the airport will be fully equipped and prepared to handle the travel," Moreland said.